How do I know when to stop revising?

[Simona]

I've revised my paper six times. I keep finding things to change. A writing coach says: “At some point, you have to stop. You're not looking for perfection; you're looking for completion.” Another says: “If you're making changes that don't improve clarity or argument, you're polishing, not revising.”

I'm scared of submitting something imperfect. But I'm also scared of never submitting. How do you know when you've done enough? For those who've finished papers, what was your sign that it was time to stop?

 

[Annie]

I had this exact problem with my thesis. My advisor finally said: "Your paper isn't getting better. It's getting different. Stop." That was the wake-up call. If you're not sure whether a change improves it, it probably doesn't. The law of diminishing returns kicks in hard after the third or fourth revision. Print it out. Read it once. If nothing is wrong, it's done.